Major Accident Hazards

California AB2475 Proposes Expanded State and Local Emergency After-Action Reporting Duties

California lawmakers are advancing AB 2475 to tighten state and local emergency after-action and recovery reporting under the Standardized Emergency Management System, adding defined timelines, annual recovery updates, and publication requirements for the Office of Emergency Services and local governments. If enacted, this will require emergency management leaders and affected departments to plan for structured, data-rich post-incident reporting within 120–180 days, increasing transparency and oversight but also creating new compliance workload and potential exposure around disaster response performance.

16 May 2026, 09:04leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

Italy Ministry of the Interior Recognises and Classifies KNDS 40/70 Explosive Cartridges for Armed Forces and Police

Italy's Ministry of the Interior has recognised and classified two KNDS 40/70 explosive cartridges for exclusive military and police use under the national explosives regime, via a ministerial decree adopted on 28 April 2026 and published on 14 May 2026. These classifications clarify how specific 40/70 munitions are regulated, excluding them from civilian markets and signalling to defence suppliers and authorities the applicable categories, legal basis, and time-limited avenues for administrative appeal.

16 May 2026, 08:55gazzettaufficiale.itItaly

US MSHA Seeks Comment on Slope and Shaft Sinking Plans Information Collection for Underground Coal Mines

MSHA has submitted its information collection on slope and shaft sinking plans for surface work areas of underground coal mines (OMB Control No. 1219-0019) to OMB for renewal and opened a 30-day public comment period ending 15 June 2026. Mining operators and industry groups should note that this review keeps existing plan-submission obligations in place while offering a short window to influence the estimated administrative burden and terms of approval for the next three years.

15 May 2026, 16:28federalregister.govUnited States

UN TDG And GHS Sub-Committees Receive Proposals On Combinations Of Physical Hazard Classes

UN experts have submitted detailed proposals to amend the Globally Harmonized System so that explosives, self-reactive substances, organic peroxides and desensitised explosives are classified more consistently when they coincide with other physical hazards, and to add new precautionary statements and SDS guidance for these energetic and pyrophoric materials. If adopted at the July 2026 UN TDG and GHS sessions, these changes would reshape classification logic and labelling expectations for energetic substances across jurisdictions that follow the UN GHS and Model Regulations, so companies should start assessing which product portfolios and safety documentation could ultimately be affected.

15 May 2026, 16:19docs.un.orgGlobal

Italy Ministry of the Interior Classifies Explosive Product "Cutter Cable Y-1265-12-1" in Category V Group E

Italy’s Ministry of the Interior has formally recognised and classified the explosive product “cutter cable Y-1265-12-1” in Category V, Group E under national explosives law, via a ministerial decree adopted in April 2026 and published in May 2026. This decision places the cutter cable within the official explosives lists for armed forces and police use, clarifying its regulatory status and associated licensing, storage, and handling controls for Leonardo S.p.A. and defence-side operators.

15 May 2026, 15:22gazzettaufficiale.itItaly

Italy Ministry of the Interior Classifies Explosive "Cutter Cable Y-1265-11-1" as Category V Group E

Italy’s Ministry of the Interior has formally recognised and classified Leonardo’s explosive product “cutter cable Y-1265-11-1” as a Category V Group E explosive for exclusive military and police use, via Ministerial Decree 5541/2026 published in May 2026. This decision clarifies the legal status and permitted use conditions for this specific defence product under Italy’s explosives framework without introducing new obligations for civilian markets.

15 May 2026, 15:22gazzettaufficiale.itItaly

US Department of Labor Seeks Comment on Mine Rescue Team Emergency Preparedness Information Collection

The US Department of Labor has submitted an MSHA information collection on mine rescue team emergency preparedness records for OMB review and is seeking public comment by 15 June 2026. The renewal keeps underground mine operators’ existing training, equipment-check, and emergency medical arrangement recordkeeping obligations in force, signalling continued scrutiny of mine rescue readiness rather than new substantive safety requirements.

15 May 2026, 14:43federalregister.govUnited States

Cantabria Law 5/2026 Updates Waste Tariffs and Industrial Safety Fees

Cantabria has adopted Law 5/2026, effective 1 May 2026, increasing municipal waste-treatment tariffs and introducing new fixed fees for industrial registrations and Seveso safety documentation. These changes raise operating costs for waste and industrial facilities in the region while offering small tax incentives for certified waste-reduction actions, so 2026 budgets, contracts, and compliance planning may need adjustment.

15 May 2026, 13:36boe.esSpain

US PHMSA Seeks Comment on Trinity Industries Special Permit 22260-N for Re-Stenciling DOT-105 Tank Cars

PHMSA has opened a Federal Register comment period on Trinity Industries' special permit application 22260-N to re-stencil DOT-105 tank cars for extended TIH/PIH rail service. If approved, this could extend the usable life of affected tank cars under the Hazardous Materials Regulations, so fleet and compliance teams should assess exposure and consider commenting before the 11 June 2026 deadline.

15 May 2026, 13:30federalregister.govUnited States

US DOT PHMSA Announces Special Permit Application 22281-N (Mott Corporation) for Division 4.2 Solids in Non-DOT Gas Purification Equipment

PHMSA has listed Mott Corporation’s Special Permit Application 22281-N in the Federal Register, seeking authorization to move certain Division 4.2 solid materials in non-DOT gas purification equipment across multiple transport modes, with comments due by 11 June 2026. If granted, this permit could create a precedent for alternative packaging and transport conditions for spontaneously combustible solids in gas purification systems, so hazmat shippers and carriers may want to assess impacts and consider commenting.

15 May 2026, 13:29federalregister.govUnited States

Gansu Province Issues Opinions to Strengthen Enterprise Work Safety Responsibilities

Gansu’s provincial work safety committee has issued new Opinions detailing 24 measures to reinforce enterprise work safety responsibilities and prevent major accidents across the province as of mid-May 2026. This guidance operates under existing Chinese work safety laws but signals more intensive expectations for safety management, risk controls, and preparedness for inspections in Gansu-based operations.

15 May 2026, 13:26mem.gov.cnChina

Louisiana Enrolls HB1033 To Expand "Critical Infrastructure" Definition

Louisiana has enrolled HB1033 and sent it to the Governor, proposing to broaden the state’s “critical infrastructure” definition in criminal and infrastructure statutes to cover additional facilities and networks. If signed, more energy, transport, water, communications, government and military sites in Louisiana will qualify for heightened legal protection, raising security expectations and risk management duties for operators.

15 May 2026, 09:40legis.la.govUnited States

US Coast Guard Seeks Comment on Renewal of Barge Fleeting Facility Records Information Collection (ICR 1625-0023)

The US Coast Guard has issued a 30-day Paperwork Reduction Act notice to renew, without change, its information collection on barge fleeting facility records (ICR 1625-0023), covering daily inspections of barge moorings and hazardous cargo movements. Existing safety and recordkeeping obligations remain unchanged, but operators and industry groups have a limited window after Federal Register publication to comment on the paperwork burden and shape future oversight expectations.

14 May 2026, 19:12public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

Drenthe Issues Draft Wabo Environmental Permit for Teijin Aramid Seveso Site in Emmen

In May 2026, Drenthe opened public consultation on a draft Wabo environmental permit to modify Teijin Aramid’s Seveso installation in Emmen, allowing additional storage of PPTA and related aramid products. Once finalised, the permit will define conditions for hazardous-substance storage and risk management at the site, so Seveso, HSE and permitting teams should monitor any changes to inventory limits or emergency-planning obligations.

14 May 2026, 12:30zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority Grants Equinor Consent To Use Irpa Subsea Production System

Norway’s offshore safety regulator has granted Equinor consent to use the Irpa subsea production system and associated Aasta Hansteen modifications, published in May 2026. This operational approval clears a key step toward Irpa production start-up in 2026, signalling progress on offshore gas capacity under Norway’s established HSE framework.

14 May 2026, 05:56havtil.noNorway

US House Introduces Better Energy Storage and Safety Act (H.R. 8706)

In May 2026, a US House bill (Better Energy Storage and Safety Act, H.R. 8706) was introduced to amend the Energy Act of 2020 and strengthen federal programmes on energy storage system safety, testing, demonstrations, and funding. If enacted, it would direct DOE, NIST and the US Fire Administration to expand safety-focused R&D, standardised testing protocols and stress-testing projects for grid-scale and residential energy storage technologies, signalling tighter future safety expectations for battery and storage system suppliers and operators.

13 May 2026, 19:12govinfo.govUnited States

Limburg Province Amends Chemelot Site Permit on Financial Security and PGS 29

In May 2026, Limburg’s provincial authority amended the Chemelot site environmental permit to tighten financial security arrangements, adjust the Seveso site boundary and create enforceable, site-wide obligations to implement updated PGS 29 safety measures under the new Dutch environmental regime. For Chemelot operators this consolidates financial guarantees for environmental damage across multiple sub-installations and sets binding timelines for adopting future PGS 29 revisions, increasing scrutiny of major accident and remediation risks at the site.

13 May 2026, 12:36jeleefomgeving.nlNetherlands

New Jersey Senate Bill S4269: Skilled Workforce Requirements for High-Hazard Industrial Facilities

New Jersey has posted Senate Bill S4269 for the 2026–2027 session, signalling a proposal to introduce skilled and trained workforce requirements for certain high-hazard industrial facilities, although no bill text is yet available. This points to a potential tightening of HSE and labour compliance expectations for operators of high-hazard industrial sites in New Jersey, warranting close monitoring until detailed scope, definitions, and obligations are published.

13 May 2026, 11:48njleg.state.nj.usUnited States

Norway: Standard Norge Publishes Revised NORSOK N-005:2026 Standard on Offshore Integrity Management

Standard Norge has published NORSOK N-005:2026, a revised industry standard on integrity management of offshore structures and marine systems, replacing the 2017 edition and consolidating content from N-006, with a launch webinar scheduled for 25 May 2026. For offshore operators and asset owners who rely on NORSOK N-005 for structural integrity, inspection and monitoring programmes, the new edition signals a need to review internal standards, data management and surveillance practices against the updated functional requirements and guidance.

12 May 2026, 15:21online.standard.noNorway

China MEM Publishes Interpretation of AQ 2085‑2025 Major Accident Hazard Criteria for Oil and Gas Extraction

China’s Ministry of Emergency Management has issued detailed 2026 guidance interpreting national standard AQ 2085‑2025 on criteria for determining major accident hazards in oil and gas extraction. This clarifies how regulators will assess training, well control, hydrogen sulfide management, emergency planning and contractor oversight, so operators should benchmark their safety systems now to avoid facilities being classified as major accident hazards.

12 May 2026, 14:45mem.gov.cnChina